Inevitable South African success to continue in ODI and Test Series (Part 1)
The South African team confirmed all odds and had a feast on the T20 Pakistani cricket team. The scheduled Pakistani home series in UAE between Pakistan and South Africa commenced with two T20 matches, which have been pocketed by the African visitors with
utmost ease.
The Asian unpredictable’s were the T20 series favourites based on their exceptional track record in the format of the game. But South Africa’s recent winning form and Pakistan’s troubles off the field tipped the scales in South Africa’s favour.
The Pakistani T20 cricket team appeared to be unbreakable and undefeatable with the likes of cricketers such as Shahid Afridi, Umar Gul, Younis Khan, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Razzaq and Misbah-ul-Haq. All these Asian cricket superstars have dazzled the T20 World
cricket arena.
But in the UAE T20 matches unpredictable Pakistan looked out of order. They were out-thought and out-played. Not to forget, the recent controversial inclusion of the former Pakistani skipper Younis Khan wasn’t put to good use or utilised in any regard for
that matter, as he wasn’t even considered to play any of the 20-over matches.
The South African’s dominated the hosts in UAE in all three cricketing departments. Pakistan’s batting collapsed in both matches close to the 120 runs mark. The only batting performances worth mentioning are the efforts of skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Misbah-ul-Haq-c1972.
The rest weren’t even allowed to settle as they all lost their wickets in quick succession.
Skipper Afridi blamed the poor performance on the batting and himself. He believes that the team had potential but failed to perform, and fell short by a good 40 to 30 runs in both encounters.
The dashing Pakistani skipper also added that the young team has the temperament and patience to bat through the 50 over and longer version of the game, keeping in mind, the inclusion of Misbah-ul-haq and former skipper Younis Khan.
Misbah-ul-Haq is a known T20 specialist based on his outstanding form with the bat in the format. He is among the leading run scorers in the World arena in the T20 cricketing fraternity.
Not to forget, Misbah is taking all the time in the World to overcome the lost cricketing time period as he wasn’t allowed to play for the national team for a year. And all that is required by the veteran is a bit of confidence on his shoulders, which is
hoped to come from the ODI series as he will be leading the young Pakistani Test side, soon after the five match limited over series.
On the other hand, Younis Khan’s well-waited comeback might backfire on the national selectors of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755, based on his batting average of 11.12 in the last eight matches played by him in the international arena. And the fact, that the veteran averages
25.92 from 29 ODIs, at a strike rate of 66.97 from his international ODI career against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757. But nevertheless, he’s not expected to be a match-winner for the team, as his playing role includes providing stability to the national team in the middle
order of the 50-over game.
Not to forget, that last year’s top Pakistani batsmen are Shahid Afridi and the Akmal brothers. And between the three there are only two dazzling centuries which are not even close to a stunning ODI performance with the bat.
The skipper has also made an outstanding century of 109 off 76 balls against the Sri Lankan team, which was a match winning performance by the veteran. Another important factor is that both Afridi’s centuries came in the Asia Cup, under immense pressure.
And even the handful of ODI performances by the Akmal brothers have come from the Asia Cup or other major events.
(To be continued...Part 2)
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